My attention has been drawn to a publication on Ghanaweb and other news portals with the headline “US-based Ghanaian sports journalist under fire for justification of Nungua Wulormo’s marriage to 12-year-old girl”.
I wish to state emphatically and clearly distance myself from the said publication as a true reflection of my beliefs, aspiration, conviction, action and what I stand for when it comes to children, their welfare, and future.
As a Father of 2 beautifully growing young girls, and a husband to one woman, I am best placed to understand the needs of children in relation to their education, the enjoyment of life to its fullest and the opportunities available for them to explore while growing up.
I am also fully aware that Early marriage has devastating consequences for a girl’s life. Effectively, child marriage ends her childhood. Girls are forced into adulthood before they are physically and mentally ready. Child brides are frequently deprived of their rights to health, education, safety and participation.
I am fully aware that such marriages put the child at a higher risk of physical and sexual violence.
To put things in its rightful perspective, In the aftermath of the news of the purported marriage of the Wulormo of Nungua, I was engaging in an academic exercise on the laws of Ghana relating to children, and the rights of their parents to give their hand in marriage, this exercise involved persons with legal background who explored the constitution of Ghana, and the children’s act of Ghana as their defense to the condemnation of the supposed marriage.
At all material times in the discuss, my aim was to point out to the fact that the constitution had left out great areas which allowed certain parents to give their children’s hand in marriage. I was also engaging some persons who had fair and far understanding of the matter to ascertain if indeed the Wulormo was married to the 12 year old child (at the time).
At all material times of the discussion, my point was to expose the fact that the constitution of Ghana left a great area that persons who wish to engage in child marriage could take advantage of.
I will like to also stress on the fact that as a Ghanaian, I hold no hostilities to any traditional or cultural practices of any community that seek to hold firm the bond between the people and their ancestors.
I am extremely surprised and utterly flabbergasted that I was seen to justify such marriages, if any in the case of the Wulormo.
I wish to state in plain language that I am a responsible father of 2 girls and will never dabble in an irresponsible act of given out the hands of girls under the legally prescribed marriage age to be married.
